SB 2338 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Summary

Exempts Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation employees from the requirement that their employment actions and job descriptions be subject to approval by the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Requires the Executive Director of HHFDC to be paid a salary recommended by its Board of Directors and subject to the approval of the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, not to exceed ninety-nine per cent of the salary of the Governor. Renames the position of Executive Assistant to Deputy Executive Director for HHFDC and increases the salary cap for the Deputy Executive Director. Establishes conditions for the issuance, renewal, and termination of employment contracts issued by the HHFDC, Hawaii Community Development Authority, and the Hawaii Public Housing Authority. Exempts the Executive Director of HCDA, and officers, agents, and employees appointed by the Executive Director, from the requirement that their employment actions and job descriptions be subject to approval by the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Requires the Executive Director of HCDA to be paid a salary recommended by the Authority and subject to the approval of the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, not to exceed ninety-nine per cent of the salary of the Governor. (CD1)

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jul 2026

Introduced Jan 15, 2026 Signed Jul 15, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2338_HD2 → SB2338_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was revised to shift focus from creating a 'Finance Manager' role to establishing a higher-level 'Finance Director' with greater authority and a salary cap that can exceed the Executive Director's. The revision also grants both housing agencies autonomy in hiring and salary decisions, changes the maximum employment contract term from three years to two years (unless approved by the legislature), and updates the effective date from the year 3000 to 2050.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include 'autonomy in personnel matters' for both the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, allowing them to set their own job descriptions and salaries without external approval.

REQUIREMENT

Created a new 'Finance Director' position with a salary cap that may exceed the Executive Director's salary, replacing the previous 'Finance Manager' role.

Changed the maximum employment contract term from three years to two years for both agencies, unless the legislature explicitly approves a longer term.

Granted both housing agencies autonomy in personnel matters, including the ability to establish positions and set salaries without prior approval.

TIMELINE

Updated the effective date of the Act from July 1, 3000, to July 1, 2050.

DEFINITION

Renamed the 'Executive Assistant' position to 'Deputy Executive Director' for the housing finance corporation.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 26, 2026

Vetoed

Notice of intent to veto (Gov. Msg. No. 1264)

lower

Jun 26, 2026

Vetoed

Notice of Intent to veto dated 06/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1264)

upper

May 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia, Gedeon, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (5) and none excused (0).

lower

May 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Fevella). Excused, 0 (none).

upper

May 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 121-26) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

May 1, 2026

Introduced

48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.

upper

May 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 121-26).

upper

May 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Sayama, Miyake; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Muraoka; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

May 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Chang, Hashimoto, Elefante; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 10:00AM in conference room 224.

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 10:00AM in conference room 224.

lower

Apr 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 10:00AM in conference room 224.

lower

Apr 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-28-26 10:05AM in conference room 224.

lower

Apr 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Monday 04-27-26 10:05AM in conference room 224.

lower

Apr 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 04-24-26 10:05AM in conference room 224.

lower

Apr 10, 2026

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 506).

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Gedeon, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (3) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa.

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Amato, Gedeon, Pierick, Reyes Oda, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka voting no (2) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1465-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Reyes Oda; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from HSG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1311-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to LAB.

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Miyake, Grandinetti, Kila, Kitagawa, La Chica; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Pierick; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Cochran, Muraoka; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to HSG, LAB, FIN, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 212) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM has rescheduled its decision making to 03-05-26 12:04PM; CR 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-05-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Reported from HOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2400) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HOU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HOU were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Chang, Hashimoto, Elefante, Rhoads, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HOU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-26 1:01PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to HOU, WAM.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 15, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

4 primary · 1 co-sponsor